Highway shooting like a movie – witness

Members of the SAPS attend to a scene on the M1 near Killarney, 22 October 2013, where a shootout occurred following a chase from Pretoria. A man was shot and wounded on the scene and another fled. Up to 50 shots were fired, leaving eyewitnesses stunned. Picture: Michel Bega

A shooting on Tuesday on the M1-south highway near Killarney in Johannesburg was like a movie, said eyewitnesses.

“It sounded like a battlefield,” said Nomonde Sithebe who works at an office park close to the scene.

“We heard gunshots. They were so loud… I think they exchanged more than 30 bullets.”

A man in a minibus taxi chased by police was shot and wounded in the shooting. Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said the man suffered wounds to the upper leg.

Eyewitness Khanyisile Khoza said the man’s wounds were severe. “I don’t think his lower part will ever work again,” she said.

The man was taken to hospital under police guard.

Police were still searching for his accomplice who fled after the bullet-riddled taxi came to a standstill near the Joe Slovo Drive off-ramp.

Members of the SAPS attend to a scene on the M1 near Killarney, 22 October 2013, where a shootout occurred following a chase from Pretoria. A man was shot and wounded on the scene and another fled. Up to 50 shots were fired, leaving eyewitnesses stunned. Picture: Michel Bega

The man shot at police as he fled.

The wrecked vehicle was still parked under the bridge near the off-ramp by lunchtime and ballistics officials were combing the scene.

Dlamini said police approached the minibus taxi at a Pretoria taxi rank after a commotion, but it sped off.

“Police officers summoned back-up vehicles, including a chopper.”

Eyewitnesses said shots were also coming from the chopper. The man who fled the scene shot at police and they returned fire.

Dlamini said police had his particulars and were searching for him. No police officials or other motorists were injured in the shoot-out.

The taxi driver would be charged with malicious damage to property and attempted murder.

Traffic on the M1-south was disrupted and traffic was moving slowly as dozens of traffic officials, police officers, and medics worked on the scene.

The police landed their helicopter on the highway. Shortly before 3pm, it was still there.